With baseball's annual general manager meetings taking place in Milwaukee, there are many rumors floating around. Here's what CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler -- who is there -- heard Tuesday.

• The Yankees have met with Bob Garber, who is the agent for free agent starting pitchers C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt. The two sides are in preliminary discussions about both players, but several other teams are obviously still in play.

• The Red Sox are going to interview an unnamed candidate for a second time. Dale Sveum is also getting a second interview and several have speculated he's the front-runner.

• The Nationals need a center fielder and some other pieces, but are primarily focusing on one veteran starting pitcher. They're in on Wilson, Oswalt and Mark Buehrle. And we know they aren't shy when it comes to spending money (Exhibit A: Jayson Werth). Adding one of these guys to a rotation with young guns Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann would give the Nats a very strong rotation. The Nationals also wouldn't rule out any of the big-name offensive free agents (Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes), but it's much more likely they go pitching.

• The Orioles don't have near as much money to spend as some people thought they'd have. "We have to be smarter and work harder," new general manager Dan Duquette said. It looks like a payroll in the range of $90 million, which is an increase, but not a gigantic one. They opened last season with just over $85 million in player salaries.

• The Brewers have big reservations on signing Rafael Furcal and probably can't make a serious run at Jose Reyes, so don't be surprised if they bring back Yuniesky Betancourt to play shortstop. Also, Knobler told me it sounds like "the longest of longshots" Prince Fielder is back next season.

• Expect the owners to approve the sale of the Astros Thursday, and the move will also result in the Astros moving to the American League, starting in 2013. This will result in two 15-team leagues and interleague play all season.

• The Collective Bargaining Agreement will not be announced during the meetings. It will come Friday at the earliest, but don't worry, it's going to get done.

Here are some other notes from the meetings, compiled from other reporters:

The Dodgers, meanwhile, are adding a backup catcher. The club announced Tuesday it has signed Matt Treanor. The LA Times reports it's for $850,000. Treanor will likely back up Tim Federowicz, a prospect obtained from Boston at the trade deadline. The team could also move forward with A.J. Ellis as a starter, although that's unlikely. L.A. could also bring in another catcher to challenge for playing time, but it looks as if the starting catcher for the Dodgers won't be settled until spring training.

Treanor hit .214/.338/.291 in 2011, mostly for the Royals. He was traded late in the season to Texas and was on the World Series roster, although he did not appear in a game.

The Dodgers' previous second baseman, Jamey Carroll, has agreed to a contract with Minnesota. Justin Sellers is the only second baseman on the Dodgers' roster.

Ellis, 34, hit .248/.288/.346 with seven home runs and 41 RBI with the Athletics and Rockies last season, hitting much better (shocker) once he arrived in Denver, hitting .274/.317/.392 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 70 games with the Rockies.

Matt Kemp has agreed to a contract extension with Los Angeles for the next eight years, CBSSports.com's Scott Miller confirms. The deal is done, pending the outcome of a physical exam.

Kemp is set to earn $160 million on his deal with the Dodgers, which will tie Mark Teixeira for the fifth-richest contract ever signed. The deal would also become the most expensive deal in team and NL history. Teixeira's deal with the Yankees is also for eight years, running through 2016.

One interesting aspect to this deal is that the owner responsible for signing Kemp in Frank McCourt won't be around to pay the center fielder. McCourt is set to sell the Dodgers after coming to an agreement with MLB to do so, bringing to a close a saga that has plagued baseball since McCourt and his wife had an ugly divorce. Still, the incoming owner is likely to be thankful for the deal, as the Dodgers also have right fielder Andre Ethier set to be a free agent after 2012. As one of the better players in baseball, re-signing Kemp was a no-brainer although it cost a pretty penny to do so.

Previously, Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart, said that it was important for Kemp to be paid and be considered among the elite players at his position. After bouncing back from a poor 2010 to join the 30-30 club and miss out on 40-40 by one homer, Kemp certainly earned the money, but is it too much? Kemp has spent six seasons in the majors, exactly three of which delivered on expectations. It was just one year ago that Kemp, coming off a down year, was thought to have a lot to prove. Apparently, he's proven worth $160 million. With the extension, Kemp would no longer be a part of the free-agent class next winter. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal earlier reported the possibility of such a deal.

It appears the first domino in closer market has fallen (at least, we're pretty sure this time), but that leaves Heath Bell and Ryan Madson as the top relievers still available. But who needs a closer? Here's a look at the closing situation for all 30 teams.

AL East

Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Gregg is still under contract -- much to the chagrin of new general manager Dan Duquette's chagrin. Gregg will make $5.8 million in 2012, not exactly ideal for a guy with a WHIP of 1.642 last season and an ERA of 4.37 while picking up 22 saves. Jim Johnson recorded nine saves and threw just 91 innings, but doesn't exactly miss a ton of bats. The Orioles could move Johnson to the rotation.Possibilities: Gregg, Johnson, Bell, Francisco Cordero, Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton.

Red Sox: Well, obviously Papelbon is gone. Papelbon was the Red Sox closer for the last six years, recording the final out of the 2007 World Series among other memories. Still, As untouchable as he was in his first four years as the closer (1.74 ERA and 0.917 WHIP from 2006-2009), he had a 3.43 ERA and 1.104 WHIP over the last two seasons. Daniel Bard is unhittable at times, but struggled in the last two months of the season (which certainly wasn't uncommon among Red Sox), posting a 6.95 ERA in 21 games in August and September.Possibilities: Bard, Madson, Bell.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays let the Yankees overpay for Rafael Soriano and then picked up Kyle Farnsworth off the discard pile, signing him to a two-year, $6 million deal. In retrospect, it was genius -- Farnsworth had 25 saves with a 2.18 ERA in 2011 and the Rays will keep him another year and let someone else overpay him for 2013.

Toronto Blue Jays: Frank Francisco was the team's closer for much of 2011, but he's a free agent and the team could be looking to spend some money on a closer.Possibilities: Madson, Bell, Cordero, Rodriguez, Casey Janssen.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox: Right-hander Sergio Santos converted 30 of 36 save opportunities, liming batters to just a .181/.282/.314 slash line and he should be in line to keep his job in 2012. If he falters, Addison Reed has a chance to take over.

Cleveland Indians: Chris Perez is on solid ground as the team's closer, picking up 35 saves in 2011.

Kansas City Royals: The Royals picked up the $6 million option on Joakim Soria and have options for 2013 and 2014.

Minnesota Twins: The Twins declined their $12.5 million option on incumbent Joe Nathan, but have expressed interest in bringing him back. Although his overall numbers -- 4.84 ERA, 1.164 WHIP, 14 saves -- weren't too impressive, he did convert all 11 of his saves in the second half of the season. Left-hander Glen Perkins had two saves in 2011 and struck out 65 batters in 61 2/3 innings. If the team doesn't sign a free agent -- or trade for someone -- Perkins would have the best shot.Possibilities: Nathan, Perkins, Jon Rauch, Broxton.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels: Jordan Walden recorded 32 saves as a rookie and made the All-Star team. He did blow 10 saves last season, so it wouldn't be a complete shock if the team looked for an upgrade, but it's not expected, especially with tight purse strings this winter. The team could bring in a veteran for cheap that could close if Walden falters.Possibilities: Walden, Scott Downs, Broxton, Rauch.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers could be a wild card in the free agent closer market if they decided to move Neftali Feliz to the rotation. The Rangers tried that last spring but decided to keep Feliz in the bullpen. If they bring in a big-name, that would mean they believe Feliz can make the move. If not, there's still a chance of Mike Adams taking over for Feliz. Or they could bring in a low-cost veteran to have in reserve in case Feliz does work in the rotation.Possibilities: Mike Adams, Madson, Cordero, Rauch, Broxton.

Miami Marlins: While the artist formerly known as Leo Nunez gets his name issue sorted out, the Marlins have a gaping hole at closer. The current members of their bullpen combined for four saves last season. Do the Marlins try to go with an internal option like Edward Mujica or make a splash on the free agent market (as they've been connected to several huge names already)? Possibilities: Nunez, Mujica, Madson, Cordero, Rodriguez, Bell.

New York Mets: If they stay internally, which is entirely possible, it looks like Bobby Parnell. But he wasn't awesome by any stretch when given save chances last season. The Mets have spent big on a free agent closer before (K-Rod), so would they be gunshy in doing so again? It's possible. But it's also possible they try to land someone like Ryan Madson. Possibilities: Parnell, Madson, Bell.

Washington Nationals:Drew Storen closed 43 of 48 games in 2011, his first full season in the majors. One would think that would be enough to earn him at least another year on the job, but Storen's name keeps popping up in trade rumors and the Nationals have been reportedly interested in Madson. The Nats have plenty of money, so if they wanted to ink a big-name closer and deal Storen as part of a package for a center fielder (Denard Span, perhaps?), they would be able to do so. Possibilities: Storen, Madson, Bell, Cordero.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs: It's probably going to be Carlos Marmol again, but he better get himself in gear. Not only did he blow 10 saves, but his once-astronomical strikeout rate lowered a bit in 2011 and control continues to be a serious problem. With new brass at the helm, 2011 will likely be his last chance to get things fixed.

Cincinnati Reds: Cordero had a great four-year run with the Reds, amassing 150 saves with a 2.96 ERA, but he's a free agent now. Fireballer Aroldis Chapman is ticketed for the starting rotation and Nick Masset seems to be awfully inconsistent. The Reds don't have the money to spend in free agency, so would they make a trade for, say, Huston Street or Andrew Bailey? Seems unlikely. Either Chapman doesn't make it as a starter and sticks as closer or someone internally (23-year-old Brad Boxberger?) gets a shot. This one is totally up in the air. Possibilities: Cordero, Chapman, Boxberger, Bailey, Street, Broxton.

Houston Astros:Mark Melancon saved 20 games with a 2.78 ERA last season. There are far bigger problems with this team to believe they'll try hard to make a change here.

St. Louis Cardinals:Jason Motte was never officially named closer by the stubborn Tony La Russa, but he did more than enough down the stretch and in the playoffs to earn the job for 2012, closing nine of 10 saves during the Cardinals' late run and five more in the postseason.

Colorado Rockies: Street is reportedly on the trading block. If he's is dealt, look for Rafael Betancourt to take over. He collected eight saves with a 2.89 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning in 2011.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Rookie Javy Guerra came on to save 21 games in 23 chances with a 2.31 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings in 2011. That's enough to have nailed down the job for the 2011 season, one would think.

San Diego Padres: Bell is a free agent, but the Padres may just offer him arbitration, and he actually might accept it. If he does stay, the choice is obvious. If Bell leaves, there's a decent internal option in Chad Qualls. Qualls, 33, has 51 career saves. As far as free agency, if the Padres want to pay for a closer, they'll be paying for Bell. Possibilities: Bell, Qualls.

Yes, that line was from the movie "Hoosiers," and it totally ended up backfiring on poor ol' George. But in this case, the quote seems to be ringing quite true.

The Dodgers had a decline in attendance, specifically season-ticket sales, in 2011 as maligned owner Frank McCourt became one of the most unpopular figures in Los Angeles. Now that the season has concluded, the ticket prices have dropped and McCourt is being forced to sell the team. And the fans are already reacting.

According to the Los Angeles Times, season ticket sales are up 30 percent from this time last year and the club has seen a 50 percent spike in revenue over the first four days of overall ticket sales. Also, the Times cites a team source in reporting that news of McCourt's selling the team resulted in "a wave of phone calls" from fans interested in tickets.

"It's obvious that some of the people who said, 'I'm not coming back if there's not an ownership change' have followed through," the LA Times source said.

Assuming the sale of the Dodgers goes through with minimal setbacks, things are definitely looking up for the Dodgers.

A few weeks after declining to pick up options on catchers Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder, the Pirates have added a catcher via free agency. Rod Barajas has signed a one-year deal with a team option with the Pirates, the team announced Thursday. Barajas' 2012 salary is $4 million and the option is for $3.5 million reports Yahoo's Tim Brown.

Barajas, 36, hit .230/.287/.430 with 16 home runs in 336 plate appearances for the Dodgers last season. He has good power but doesn't do a good job at getting on base. Expect Barajas to be the primary starter behind the plate for the Pirates with Michael McKenry filling in a few times a week or so. Barajas has never appeared in more than 125 games in a season.

Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp is coming off a season in which he led the National League in runs, home runs, RBI, total bases and OPS-plus while also making his first All-Star appearance, bringing home his second Gold Glove and winning his second Silver Slugger. Having just turned 27 in late September, there would appear to be several more of those years on the horizon, and the Dodgers are trying to make sure those all come in Los Angeles.

Locking up Kemp long-term has become an offseason priority for general manager Ned Colletti and MLB.com is reporting that talks have gained "more substance" of late.

"I hope we can work something out," Kemp said (MLB.com). "I don't know what the future holds. But I've told everybody this is where I want to be, in L.A. for years to come. But I can't control anything. It's up to the front office."

The report also notes Kemp's agent -- former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart -- has told his client to cut off talks if a deal isn't reached by the start of next season. Kemp is currently arbitration-eligible for one more season and is set to be a free agent after the 2012 season, if he's not extended before then, obviously.

Now, yes, the Dodgers have money issues due to one Frank McCourt, but an ownership change is in process, so that situation doesn't appear to affect the club's ability to re-up with Kemp. At least as things currently stand.

Kemp has a good shot at winning the NL MVP after a monster 2011 campaign. He hit .324/.399/.586 with 39 home runs, 126 RBI, 115 runs and 40 stolen bases.